Massage Therapy at the Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine

Massage: The Best Remedy for Stressed Life in the New Millenium!

Good health is more than the absence of disease. It is the presence of a sense of well-being and calm that results from a balanced complement of good nutrition, work, play, rest, and relationships. We Americans are losing ground! As a result The Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine has developed strategies that employ the most highly effective stress-reducing therapies to give you back the balance and harmony your body needs.

Studies on both animals and humans have consistently shown that sustained periods of high stress lead to poor health. Damaging stress produces excessive adrenaline output. This produces a faster heart rate, fast and shallow breathing (and thus poor oxygenation of your tissues), increased muscle tension, disrupted sleep patterns, irritability, poor nutrient absorption, and much more. Over time, it suppresses our immune system, and we become more susceptible to illness.

Are you sick and tired of being stressed out to the max? Our team of massage therapists at the Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine specializes in bringing balance back to your life!

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Therapeutic Massage is an age-old health practice that directly combats damaging stress. We can all attest to the fact that life in the “new millennium” is speeding up! Who among us would not benefit from a full body massage at regular intervals as part of a long-term strategy of prevention and wellness? Massage is for the young and old alike. It can benefit those who are in great shape and those who are out of shape. It confers its recuperative benefits to those who are generally in good health as well as to those who are seriously ill. Massage with one of our gifted therapists is for just about everyone! Here’s how it helps your overall health:

Promotes circulation of the blood and lymphatic systems

Improves extensibility of muscles and connective tissues

Relieves muscle tension and stress

Boosts your immune system

Stimulates the Relaxation Response

Contributes to healthy, well-nourished skin

Some of the most painful conditions can manifest first through the muscular system and soft tissues of the body. This is the point of specialized contact for our massage therapists at The Center for Spine Pain. Specific attention to certain muscles goes a long way in bringing about lasting relief from pain!

Tension headaches

Neck pain

Jaw and face pain

Back pain

Some types of sciatica

Foot, ankle, knee and hip pain

Shoulder pain and forearm pain

Many forms of carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow

Massage, Stress and Your Immune System

Therapeutic Massage is an age-old health practice that directly combats damaging stress. We can all attest to the fact that life in the “new millennium” is speeding up! Who among us would not benefit from a full body massage at regular intervals as part of a long-term strategy of prevention and wellness? Massage is for the young and old alike. It can benefit those who are in great shape and those who are out of shape. It confers its recuperative benefits to those who are generally in good health as well as to those who are seriously ill. Massage with one of our gifted therapists can help you stay more active, enjoy more calm, manage stress, and avoid illness. Specific ways massage helps stress:

Normalizes muscle tone

Improves circulation

Restores normal breathing patterns

Enhances sleep

Confers mental calmness and a greater feeling of well-being

Mild Tissue Oxygen Deprivation and Chronic Pain

Ischemic Tension Myalgia is a commonly missed diagnosis that perpetuates chronic pain. Many who have suffered with this condition undergo spine surgery, injections, or are placed on narcotics for a lifetime. With an accurate diagnosis and proper care, chronic pain patients can enjoy a significant return to a higher quality active lifestyle without dependence on drugs. Massage therapy plays a vital role in re-establishing a normal circulation to the muscles that are responsible for the often intense pain of Ischemic Tension Myalgia. Please see one of our Doctors to find out if you have this important but often overlooked condition.

Massage Complements Exercise, Fitness and Athletic Performance

We have extensive experience serving athletes of all levels of fitness and ability, from the weekend warrior to High School Champions, to Olympians, to local professional athletes. In conjunction with our medical, chiropractic and acupuncture providers, our goal is to maximize enjoyment and competitiveness in your sport. Because your fitness and athletic endeavors are important to your life (perhaps even the basis of a professional career or college scholarship) you owe it to yourself to receive the special benefits of massage in a world-class, integrated health care environment.

Accelerates the recovery of tired and sore muscles

Increases flexibility and reduces soft tissue adhesions

Relaxes tight muscles

Improves circulation of oxygen to muscles

Enhances contractile power of muscles affected with trigger points

Massage Improves Your Body in Special Circumstances

Integrated therapeutic massage therapy is effective in helping those with special needs in special situations. Here are a few examples:

Helps mothers-to-be during pregnancy

Improves flexibility and circulation for aging and less active people (e.g., the elderly, physically challenged or sedentary individuals)

Provides relaxation for those suffering from cancer and for those who are caring for loved ones with cancer.

For those with fibromyalgia, lymphedema, chronic fatigue syndrome, or multiple sclerosis, massage can be an invaluable way to improve your functionality and quality of life

Your First Visit

On your first visit with one of our skilled massage therapists you will be asked to explain any symptoms you may be having, and your overall goal for making a massage therapy appointment with us. In many cases massage therapy at The Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine is prescribed by medical physicians, chiropractors, or surgeons. In such cases, your referral and working diagnosis will be reviewed to select the best soft tissue technique.

All massage therapy sessions are provided in private massage therapy suites that are tastefully and professionally appointed for your comfort and relaxation. Fresh linens, comforters, bolsters and infrared heat are used to place your limbs in just the right position and to keep your skin at the perfect temperature to promote relaxation for maximum benefit from your massage. The utmost consideration is given to your comfort levels and modesty at all times. Some of our patients prefer to receive massage in athletic apparel, while others are accustomed to traditional, professional draping with fresh linens.

During your massage, relaxing background music may be used. Your feedback will be solicited as to the depth of pressures utilized to make sure you are receiving therapy that is within your comfort zone and tolerance levels. Some patients prefer and have had good experience with deeper pressure therapy, while others have had better results with lighter techniques. Whatever your preference, you’ll be listened to and the techniques that work best for you will be incorporated into the core of your treatment plan.

Finally, each massage therapy patient is provided with plenty of water to encourage the all-important hydration process. We believe this is especially critical for residents along Colorado’s mountain range, where our climate is that of a high altitude desert. Moisture is wicked away from the skin before we are aware of perspiration. As a general rule we advocate that our patients drink ½ their body weight in ounces of water each day. Athletes, of course, require more, and —depending on conditions—oftentimes significantly more.

We invite you to explore the manifold benefits of massage for your health! To schedule with one of our massage therapists, please call us for an appointment. We look forward to serving you!

Our Unique Approach

Integrated Therapeutic Massage at The Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine is just that: truly integrated. Our therapists work with our medical physician, our chiropractors and rehabilitation specialists, and our acupuncturist in a close, collaborative relationship. The exposure our massage therapists receive in our Spine and Sports Center of Excellence means that you’ll receive the perfect massage for your needs, whether for total relaxation, for support of a serious illness, or for a complex spine pain syndrome. Our Doctors and massage therapists communicate regularly about your care. You’ll receive the very best, most personalized therapeutic touch tailored to your needs. And when necessary, your care can be integrated with expertise of our team of highly qualified Spine and Sports Medicine experts.

Because of their familiarity with acupuncture, provided by our clinic’s acupuncturist, our massage therapists have had the unique opportunity to correlate the response of patients with certain conditions to a combination of acupuncture and massage. Our therapists are skilled in identifying the conditions that respond best to combined acupuncture-massage intervention.

Finally, fully integrated therapeutic massage at The Center for Spine, Sport & Physical Medicine allows for a hidden benefit: cost savings! You can avoid spending weeks and weeks spinning your wheels with therapy that may feel good, but may not be right for your condition. The bottom line is that you’ll get the right treatment sooner, better results faster, and greater cost savings to you and your health plan.

To schedule with one of our massage therapists, please call us for an appointment. We look forward to serving you! Be sure to ask about our Massage Membership program!

Dr. Joel Carmichael, DC attended Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, graduating valedictorian magna cum laude in 1985. He became the second chiropractor in the United States to complete a one-year hospital residency in chiropractic family practice at Lindell Hospital with an emphasis in orthopedics. He attended grand rounds in orthopedics and rheumatology at Barnes Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine—ranked in 2007 as the 4th leading medical school in the country.

Dr. Jon Seeman graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon in 2006. He completed an internship in Beaverton, Oregon with Dr. Ted Forcum who, with Dr. Carmichael, is a top Olympic sports chiropractor. Dr. Seeman participated in treatment of amateur, elite and professional athletes from various sports. Dr. Seeman was trained in various sport injury protocols and procedures that have been proven to help with a faster recovery and enhance overall performance.